Mexican Trade Surplus Widens In March

Mexico's merchandise trade surplus increased from last year in March, and surpassed economists' forecast, data released by statistical office INEGI showed Friday.

The trade surplus advanced to $1.575 billion in March from $1.457 billion in the same month last year. Economists were looking for a surplus of $804 million.

Export of goods increased 3.4 percent annually to $32.414 billion during the month. Shipment of petroleum products advanced 1.4 percent annually, while dispatches of non-oil products moved up 3.8 percent.

Imports rose 3.2 percent from last year to $30.840 billion in March. Arrivals of petroleum products climbed 8.3 percent year-on-year, while imports of non-petroleum products moved up 2.5 percent.

In the January-March period, overall foreign trade resulted in a surplus of $1.746 billion, down 8.6 percent from the same period a year earlier. Exports and imports increased 9.6 percent and 10 percent respectively during the three-month period.

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